Dubai 03 February 2022 17:08
- The event, organised by Leonardo with the patronage of the UAE Cyber Security Council, and participation by UAE cyber security officials H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti and Dr. Marwan Alzarouni and included experiences and stories from prominent members of Emirati and Italian institutions, industry and academia
- A Cyber Game with the participation of security professionals and students from the two countries provided the opportunity to discuss on cyber security challenges for critical national infrastructure and the importance of training and education
Leonardo celebrated today the Cyber Game Award on Italy Pavilion’s stage at Expo 2020 Dubai, fostering awareness of the importance of systemic approach and training to face security issues. The Cyber Game was a practical challenge that involved cyber security professionals spanning Italian and Emirati national strategic infrastructure companies, in addition to universities and research sector representatives.
Under the patronage of the UAE Cyber Security Council, the event was also an occasion to discuss the challenges of cyberspace with prestigious experts including H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security at UAE Government and Dr. Marwan Alzarouni, Director of Information Services Department at Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), Prof. Roberto Baldoni, General Director at Italian National Cybersecurity Agency, as well as Tommaso Profeta, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Cyber Security Division.
“Although necessary, procedures and cutting-edge technologies are not sufficient to ensure cyber security” said Tommaso Profeta, Managing Director of Cyber Security division in Leonardo. “The human element is fundamental and the continuous training of all the actors involved in national security is essential to recognize and face the risks. This is why Leonardo has developed dedicated platforms to train security operators and test digital infrastructures.” Tommaso Profeta also added that “Leonardo will soon inaugurate its Cyber & Security Academy, a high-level training center on security issues that will capitalize on the company's distinctive ability to operate in the main critical civil and military domains”.
“We are pleased to be the official patron of Leonardo’s Cyber Game Award ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai. Training and international collaboration are both key to the cyber resilience of countries and strategic infrastructure” said H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, the UAE Government’s Head of Cyber Security. “Our partnerships with global security companies like Leonardo, as well as with universities and the research sector all reinforce our commitment in keeping the UAE safe from cybercrime.”
“The digital transformation is bringing new cyber threats, which are becoming more obiquitous and pervasive, targeting both individuals and organizations worldwide. In order to prevent, mitigate and respond to these threats quickly, skilled workforce and international cooperation are fundamental, and that’s why I really welcome today’s initiative” said Prof. Roberto Baldoni, General Director of the Italian National Cybersecurity Agency. “Leonardo’s Cyber Game, run by very distinguished partners from UAE and Italy, is exactly at the center of this process. Students involvement is key as well to create a new generation of people able to cope with the threats we have in front of us.”
At the heart of the event was the experience of a Cyber Game, organized and managed by Leonardo, the global technology company trusted partner of institutions and companies for the security of digital ecosystems and the resilience of strategic assets.
Using Leonardo’s Cyber Range platform that virtually reproduced a strategic industrial IT network, cyber security operators and students were challenged to defend from a simulated cyber-attack. The four defendant teams involved experts from: Emirates Steel and the Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC); the Italian company Maire Tecnimont; the Emirati universities Khalifa University and United Arab Emirates University; and TeamItaly – the Italian CyberDefender team of the National Interuniversity Consortium for Informatics (CINI).
The game offered Italian and Emirati stakeholders the opportunity to learn, confront and share knowledge in the cyber security, fast becoming of paramount importance for countries and citizens all around the world.
Leonardo’s Cyber Range system has already been chosen by the Qatar Computing Research Institute for the training of cyber security operators and to assess the resilience of digital infrastructure against potential cyber-attacks.
This is just one of Leonardo's international successes in the field of cyber security: there are over 5,000 networks and 70,000 cyber-protected users by the company in 130 countries. Among the most important cyber security contracts, the one with NATO Communication and Information Agency and the one with the European Space Agency for the protection of Space assets.
Leonardo’s technologies have been present in the Emirates for over 50 years and the company continues to work – via its local branch in Abu Dhabi – with the UAE government, armed forces and partners. Leonardo high-tech platforms in the UAE include more than 100 helicopters, training aircraft, naval systems, secure communications applications, space technologies.
